Business Support

Within the Petroleum, Chemicals & Energy Practice, our market assessment services are based on a consistent, integrated analysis of energy, the economy, supply/demand, and prices. Virtually every project assignment involves preparation of a supply/demand balance, whether it includes individual products analysis, market entry assessments, refinery optimizations or alternate feedstock evaluations.

During the past five years we have completed more than 100 projects dealing specifically with forecasting supply/demand/pricing trends for a particular product or combination of raw materials and products. These projects have included:

Crude oil

All refined products, including asphalt and lube oils

Primary petrochemicals or petrochemical derivatives

Bitumen and synthetic crude oils and fuels

Natural gas and liquefied petroleum gas (LPG)

Ammonia, urea, and methanol

Refinery upgrading requirements to meet changed product demands

Our Approach

Specific competitive studies have been completed and market strategies have been developed for clients in the petrochemicals, refining, manufacturing, synthetic fuels, forestry and paper products, food processing and packaging, utility and power, and engineering/construction industries.

To provide recommendations for a particular product or market segment, we:

We have conducted numerous interactive workshops and seminars covering many aspects across many industries including production drivers, quality parameters, industry uses, price influencers, supply chain, and commercial practices. Additionally we have conducted workshops specific to the client’s industry and needs. Participants obtain knowledge and information to be used as tools in developing strategic business plans. Our consultants have made presentations at domestic conferences, international conferences, and private industry meetings.

Presentations are made both in conuction with client studies or on a stand-alone basis.

As part of our continuing efforts to provide valuable information to our clients and select market participants, Jacobs Consultancy hosts an annual, non-affiliated petroleum coke conference and reception. At this two-day conference, we bring together the industry’s leading experts in the anode-grade and fuel-grade petroleum coke markets.

The Jacobs Consultancy Annual Petcoke Conference is an opportunity for market participants from various industries to freely exchange views on technical and market-oriented matters. Sessions have focused on the following issues: availability, production and quality of green and calcined petroleum coke; factors affecting future petcoke production; fuel-grade applications; freight markets, refinery trends, cement, and power industry opportunities for petcoke usage; and world economic trends.

Due to the fast growing coke industry in Asia, in 2010, Jacobs Consultancy held its first Asian Annual Petcoke Conference. The conference, held in various cities in the Eastern region of the world, addresses high level topics that provides insights into the new challenges for the increasingly dynamic global market.

The Petroleum, Chemicals & Energy Practice offers its clients studies and reports related to crude oil and refined products, petrochemicals, petroleum coke, and other energy sources and products. These studies and reports are published through a subscription service on a monthly, quarterly, and annual basis. Subscriptions available include:

The Hodson Report — this monthly report, in its third decade of publication, provides a comprehensive review of the U.S. butadiene situation and steam cracker operations. Includes plant-by-plant information compiled from ethylene producers, butadiene producers and consumers, and traders. Subscribers login here to access the Hodson Report (password required).

Calcined Petroleum Coke Annual Report — offers a detailed analysis of current and projected global market conditions that drive this industry, as well as provides insight into pivotal factors that could impact the supply/demand balance.